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i-CATS Research & Innovation Grant Scheme (i-RIGS)
Overview
The i-CATS Research & Innovation Grant Scheme (i-RIGS) is an institutional initiative dedicated to fostering a vibrant ecosystem of inquiry, discovery, and entrepreneurial research. The scheme provides seed funding to internal researchers to explore novel ideas, build proof-of-concepts, and generate initial data that can leverage larger national and international funding opportunities.
Core Objectives
Capacity Building: To support academic staff in developing robust research tracks and scaling their methodological expertise.
Impact-Driven Research: To encourage projects that offer tangible socio-economic or technological solutions tailored to regional growth.
Academic Excellence: To boost high-quality institutional deliverables, including Scopus/ERA-indexed publications and Intellectual Property (IP) creation.
i-RIGS Funding Category
1. Internal Research Grant
Designed to kickstart local discovery and internal capacity building. This tier provides foundational seed funding for academic staff to initiate independent projects, establish baseline metrics, and test innovative, early-stage concepts that address key technical or societal challenges.
2. Matching / Collaborative Grant
Engineered to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and external institutions. This tier supports joint research ventures where funding is co-shared with corporate partners, government agencies, or international universities, maximizing resource efficiency and driving real-world industry application.
3. Postgraduate Grant
Tailored specifically to cultivate the next generation of researchers. This tier offers dedicated funding support for registered postgraduate students to facilitate their thesis research, purchase necessary consumables, and accelerate high-quality academic deliverables under institutional mentorship.
Application Process & Submission
To apply for any of the i-RIGS funding tiers, please follow these steps:
Download the appropriate application form and the financial proposal template below.
Submit the fully completed and signed copy via email to irmc@icats.edu.my.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applications may be submitted at any time; however, they are evaluated through batch processing aligned with our official grant cycles. The grant call for the first cycle ended in June 2026. The schedule for the subsequent 2026 cycle will be communicated at a later date.
Applications are invited for the i-CATS Research & Innovation Grant Scheme (iRIGS) 2026, Cycle 2.
While proposal submissions are accepted all year round, formal evaluations are conducted based on scheduled grant calls. Submissions are processed under two distinct tracks:
1. Tracks & Timelines
Normal Track:
Cycle 2 Cut-off Date: Monday, October 26, 2026 (5:00 PM)
Funding: RM 20,000 (Science & Technology) | RM 5,000 (Non-Science & Technology)
Proposals submitted by this date will be batched and evaluated under this cycle.
Matching Grant Track:
Timeline: Evaluated on a rolling / expedited basis.
Accommodates external agency or industry co-funding deadlines. Proposals may be reviewed and committed prior to the normal track cut-off date upon submission of supporting partner documentation.
2. Review and Governance Workflow
Submissions will be evaluated per grant call and forwarded to the next feasible Research Committee meeting once reviews and corrections are complete.
3. Budget Availability & Allocation Policy
Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis subject to the availability of the 2026 grant budget. Remaining applications will be placed on hold and rolled over to the following cycle once the 2027 allocation has been approved.
4. Guidelines & Submission
Full guidelines, eligibility rules, and forms are available on the RISE website:
RISE Website: Visit the portal under Grants > iRIGS Guidelines & Forms at https://sites.google.com/icats.edu.my/research/grants
Submission Channel: Email complete proposals in PDF format to irmc@icats.edu.my (state clearly on the submission whether applying under the Normal Track or Matching Grant Track).
For enquiries regarding this call, please contact the RISE office.
Form Downloads & Resources
Please note that these materials are restricted to i-CATS UC staff only.
If you are collaborating with i-CATS UC staff, kindly request them to access the documents on your behalf. They must download the files instead of requesting editing access.
TEMPLATES & POLICIES
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